Delighted Wenbo thanks O’Sullivan after maiden ranking title joy

ENGLISH open winner Liang Wenbo thanked five-times world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan after he gave him valuable advice him prior to his first major ranking title win.

Wenbo celebrates after English Open win. Picture by World Snooker.

The new world number 12 earned his biggest pay cheque of his career last night (Sunday) when he beat Judd Trump 9-6 to win the English Open.

In what were memorable scenes, a delighted Wenbo jumped for joy several times after potting the final pink which claimed him the £70,000 prize money win and the Steve Davis Trophy – becoming the first player to do so.

And the Chinese number two star, who often plays second fiddle to fellow countryman Ding Junhui, said O’Sullivan – who has been working throughout the week as a TV pundit on Eurosport – gave him valuable advice before the final as he aimed to claim his first victory in a major ranking event.

“I’m very happy. In the last two frames I concentrated on every shot and made two good breaks,” he said.

“Snooker is a very difficult game but if you don’t enjoy it you don’t play well. Judd put me under pressure but to go 8-6 ahead gave me more confidence.

“I have to say thank you to Ronnie O’Sullivan because I practise with him and eat with him every day. I have learned a lot from him over the past two years and he’s my best friend.

“Yesterday (Saturday) he told me to look back at my UK Championship final last year and see what I could learn from it. I knew I needed to be more calm and controlled this time.

Ronnie O’Sullivan. Picture by Monique Limbos

“I’m going to forget about this victory now and keep going in the next one. I always learn from every experience.”

Wenbo is next in action on Sunday when he begins his International Championship campaign with a qualifying match against fellow Chinese player Mei Xiwen.